Experts say SC’s disproportionately high insurance fraud rate costs all South Carolinians

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A national study found insurance fraud costs Americans more than $300 billion every year.

And experts warn everyone’s premiums are going up because of it.

A new committee formed at the State House is taking a closer look at what lawmakers can do to lower insurance costs in South Carolina.

Part of that involves tackling fraud.

“This does work. When we combat insurance fraud, we’re preventing insurance premiums from increasing as a result of those fraudulent activities,” Eric DiCampos with the nonprofit National Insurance Crime Bureau said.

NICB reports South Carolina had the 15th most “questionable insurance claims” among all states last year, a disproportionately high number, given its population.

According to the national nonprofit, the most common types of insurance fraud seen in South Carolina are medical fraud and staged vehicle accidents.

Click for full story.